of income inequality, a subject
that has been dominating the
news for the past few years
again. Do you see parallels between the time period the play
was written in and today?
I certainly do. With the rise of industrialization and people moving
from farms to cities in this country in the late 1800s, a different
type of society was being formed,
along with a heightened set of
social problems that included
poverty, class warfare, violence,
greed, and racism. “Progressives”
like Jane Addams, believed that
life would be better for everyone
if corporate greed was exposed,
immigrants were not despised,
everyone had the opportunity for
a good education, and the workplace provided a clean and safe
environment with a living wage.
The Progressive Era was beginning to make strides until the
movement was overshadowed by
The First World War.
New Jersey Stage
Currently, those working for
fast-food chains are speaking up
for a decent wage. In “Within
the Law,” Mary Turner pleads the
case for better wages to Edward
Gilder, wealthy owner of a Manhattan department store when she
says, “And when you’re real sick
and have to stop work, what are
you going to do then? Do you
know that the first time an honest
girl steals, it’s often because she
needs a doctor, or some luxury
like that?”
I love the play’s concept of
someone innocent being jailed
and returning to society as a
criminal. What do you think of
the character of Mary Turner?
I admire her. She’s brilliant – and
flawed. Her thirst for revenge
for being sent to prison for three
years is paramount. Will true love
save her? After all, she can never
get those three years back that
were taken from her.
September 2014
pg 96